Is Your Business Being Hijacked?

There's plenty for small businesses to be worried about these days between the economy and unemployment, but the idea of being hijacked probably never crosses the mind of the average small business owner. Regardless, it's happening at an alarming rate and causing huge headaches for small businesses owners who are struggling enough at it is.

What do we mean by “hijacking?”

Your business' information, reputation and integrity in the hands of strangers online. It could be your competitor. It could be a spammer. It could be anybody, really. How does it happen?

Imagine that you're a bakery in your local town. You decide to claim your business listing online and see that there's already a listing at your business' address. You know for a fact that this business is in the wrong place, meanwhile the name of the business, “City Flower Shop,” seems incredibly suspicious. You can't find any trace of this business actually existing in your town and quickly come to realize that it's not an actual company. This happens very often at the hands of spammers without physical locations who are trying to write off their Internet-based companies as having a physical location. They do this for credibility in the eyes of potential customers as well to show up in search engines.

Furthermore, it means that the business being hijacked is losing credibility in the eyes of potential customers and search engines. Consumers today rely on the Internet to find products and services in their local area. If your business doesn't show up in a search, to them your business might as well not even exist at all. Additionally, a business with no directory listing is losing traction from search engines, as local ratings and reviews on online business directories are a big thumbs up to search engines such as Google. Positive reviews and a good online reputation are absolutely golden to small businesses online, and to lose them at the hands of a spammer would be tragic.

What can you do to prevent your business from taking such damage? Take the steps to properly claim and manage your online business directory listings. Ensure that the information of your listing is accurate and up to date. For example, every listing should have the same address, phone number, website and so on. Fragmented or incorrect information will not only put off potential customers seeking you out, but will also hurt your search rankings. Your listings should be as complete as you can make them, ensuring that it's easy for new and returning customers to find you. Think of it this way; if your business can't be found easily online, chances are that one of your competitors will. Online directory listings ensure that you have a place to be found online, quickly and easily.

Local search is incredibly important to small businesses today. Directories may very well serve as one of the largest avenues for new customers to find your small business. Manage your business listings properly and wisely, keep them protected and ensure that nothing is out of order. A strong online presence represents the strong foundation of your small business. Use the Internet to your advantage in growing your customer-base; don't let yourself get hijacked.